In a state of impunity - Nepali Times

Editorial
In a state of impunity

FROM ISSUE #559 (24 JUNE 2011 - 30 JUNE 2011) | TABLE OF CONTENTS

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A man accused of being involved in a murder is appointed minister by a party in the ruling coalition. Challenged by public interest litigators, the Supreme Court rules that the minister has to take personal moral responsibility, and asks the police to report on progress in the murder investigation every fortnight.

A senior Maoist member was promoted by the party after being accused of masterminding the murder of Ram Hari Shrestha in 2008. A senior Maoist who doesn't deny that it is his voice in a phone tap soliciting half a billion rupees from a Chinese businessman to buy off CA members is now the Home Minister. The only opprobrium that Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ever had to bear for the Shaktikhor Video, in which he is seen laughingly admitting to lying to just about everyone, is that his interlocutors now think twice before taking him at his word.

Tycoons who also happen to be CA members pressure the new finance minister to call off an investigation against fake VAT bills in which the exchequer lost crores. An honest and efficient finance secretary resigns on moral grounds and blows the whistle, yet nothing happens to the finance minister, nor the businessmen. Politicians tainted by the APC scam are trying to pass the buck to police officers, even though everyone it seems had their hands in the honeypot.

The current epidemic of impunity in the country sets the backdrop to the case of hooligans from the UML-connected Youth Association Nepal (alias Youth Force) Morang chapter attacking a reporter and then using its connection to the ruling partner in the coalition government to get away with it.

This is no longer just an issue of press freedom, it is emblematic of a collapse of the rule of law, a breakdown of accountability that is affecting all facets of public life. It wasn't just Khilanath Dhakal of Nagarik who got beaten up last month in Biratnagar, it was violence against all Nepalis by goons in the payroll of our rulers. The attack is getting a lot of press because it was against a journalist, but it is happening all over the country all the time. Honest members of forestry user groups are beaten up by illegal loggers. Mother's committees trying to protect water sources are threatened by quarry owners. No one dares speak out against the politically-connected sand and boulder-mining mafia that are clawing down the ecologically-sensitive Chure hills.

The prime minister has to act to bring the known culprits in his party's youth wing who gave the orders to beat up Khilanath Dhakal and set an example that no one is above the law. The home minister is twiddling his thumbs because he knows arresting the Basnets will set a precedence and he will have to detain half of his own YCL.
This coalition isn't making much progress on the peace and constitution front, on governance and the economy. But one way it can redeem itself in the eyes of a thoroughly disillusioned public is by urgently catching some high profile crooks, and start due process.

1. jange

The prime minister has to act to bring the known culprits in his party's youth wing who gave the orders to beat up Khilanath Dhakal and set an example that no one is above the law.

The hypocracy is stunning. It was OK for the Maoists to use violence for their political ends as long as it coincided with your own political objectives. Now that your paths have diverged you are accusing them of impunity?

If you have to indict anyone indict Prachanda. He is the murderer-in-chief.

Posted on: 24 JUNE 2011 | 10:28 AM NST

2. Paul Krugman
Indict them all, Jange jan !! "Maobadi" is goonda-slang for "double-forked-tongue-speak".

PK

Posted on: 24 JUNE 2011 | 11:09 AM NST

3. who cares
no wonder why maoist wants to avoid anti financing terrorism act (international) , alter the definition of organized crime (international treaty).

Posted on: 24 JUNE 2011 | 11:45 AM NST

4. Tapan Das
APC SCAM OR ANY OTHER ABOVE MENTIONED SCAMS;
Let all these culprits including the politicians envolved (a must for them) must undergo NARCO -TEST;. Then only we can decide who is the flower or who is the weed.

Posted on: 24 JUNE 2011 | 6:32 PM NST

5. Gole
Sudan kanda the queen-pin of this scam is Sujata Koirala. It is an open secret why not to implicate her? Yes NARCO TEST will disclose ever thing. Om Bickram Rana will have to spill the beans that way. He can then salvage the remaining morale of the police force that way. Sitala has to follow suit. Bam Dev and Bhim Rawal will follow them.We can thus get rid of the rotten apple of Nepalese politics that way.
Let us begin the beginning.

Posted on: 24 JUNE 2011 | 6:43 PM NST

6. sudha
Dishonest and biased reporting... Here we go again! "Politicians tainted by the APC scam are trying to pass the buck to police officers, even though everyone it seems had their hands in the honeypot." Kunda mentions all the Maoibadi names, but he conveniently omits the names of the NC politicians? Why is he protecting them? This is why we are in this mess. Be fair...

Posted on: 24 JUNE 2011 | 8:39 PM NST

7. who cares
looks like dear father of the nation (of media) was involved too.

whenever he came into power, there was always a major kanda.

Posted on: 24 JUNE 2011 | 9:04 PM NST

8. K. K. Sharma
Nice depiction of New Nepal which most of us, particularly our intellectuals and journalists, had wanted.

Posted on: 24 JUNE 2011 | 11:15 PM NST

9. Kale Rai
How about VAT Thieves? How long should we retain the two legislatior thieves,Binod Chaudhury and Diwakae Golchha and Co.?
They must be thrown out of the CA or not?

Posted on: 25 JUNE 2011 | 5:51 AM NST

10. Soni
"This coalition isn't making much progress on the peace and constitution front, on governance and the economy. But one way it can redeem itself in the eyes of a thoroughly disillusioned public is by urgently catching some high profile crooks, and start due process."

Firstly, HA HA.

The lack of progress on peace and constitution, the economy, law & order and governance is due to factors that you have deliberately not touched upon.

The politicians of this country are living in a state of paralysis that they cannot extricate themselves from. Each political group is fighting for its long-term relevance, as well as survival.

This means that they will do everything within their power to build and maintain alliances with power, and money, brokers.

These would include individuals who are capable of coercing people to either stay at home or participate in the marches, whilst the moneybags finance such events - paying off the goons and the cops.

If, for instance, these so called high profile crooks do indeed get captured, the going rate, the demand for such services, and the availability of replacement thugs is so high, and their impact on a party's well being so vital, that you would have new individuals replacing the old and they will be even more vicious.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Nepal is irredeemable, at least for the next decade it will be in political, social and economic doldrums. The alternative of course is to let the Maoists win i.e. to give them power and the media can and should play a more assertive role in that.

We have to look carefully at the situation and understand that this is the only road open to us whether we like it or not.

Over the next two months (of the three) we are unlikely to see much progress. That would mean another extension of the CA, and frankly, absolutely nobody can do anything about that extension.

The alternative that everybody is talking about will also produce another status-quo assembly, bringing us back to, as the literary giants of our time so finely put, square one.

Posted on: 25 JUNE 2011 | 8:48 AM NST

11. reb
It seems that anytime a journalist gets attacked or killed the media demands action as if they are the only ones who are sacrosanct. Where is the similar outrage when ordinary Nepalis fall prey to these political the dakas, gundas, and chors including the blue-brutes. Yes, in that order - if you know what I mean. I don't think an iota of tear would be dropped from Nepalese weary eyes if these parasites were to suffer the same fate.

Posted on: 25 JUNE 2011 | 9:17 AM NST

12. jange
# 10

We are all waiting for the next extension when everyone will wake up to the fact that nothing has been done.

#11

When a journalist gets attacked it is a crime. When others get attacked, it is a revolution.

Posted on: 25 JUNE 2011 | 3:15 PM NST

13. Arthur
It is very natural that Nepali Times regularly hammers the Maoists and seeks revenge for alleged Maoist deeds in the past.

But it would still be possible to focus on the attempted murder of a fellow journalist by UML thugs right now.

Diluting that with a focus on the past and on "impunity" in general is very interesting.

The "demand" for action at the end is purely formal. The real point of the article is to deflect action by suggesting that nothing can be done unless everything can be done.

So in fact Nepali Times wants such attacks to continue. After all without such thugs, what hope would the anti-Maoist parties have?

Posted on: 25 JUNE 2011 | 10:43 PM NST

14. Mahendra Prasad
"The prime minister has to act to bring the known culprits in his party's youth wing who gave the orders to beat up Khilanath Dhakal and set an example that no one is above the law. The home minister is twiddling his thumbs because he knows arresting the Basnets will set a precedence and he will have to detain half of his own YCL. " Jhala Nath is not man, he is gutless, he is not even a woman, he is shameless, Mahara is a goonda, a chor, a daku, a criminal, - Prachanda - OMG, he was bragging that Nepal will a Switzerland, where will he be when the Maoist party splits in 3, what about other Bigger Chors like, Sitaula, Bam Dev, Bhim Rawal and then slime buckets like Binod Chaudhary and Golcha Clan, these looters of innocent Nepalis, just look at the picture, its time to have a KOT parba in Nepal once more, where is the Janga Bahadur of 21st century Nepal, we need a Nepali Spring, or just copy what the Bangladeshis did, come on Generals of Nepal, take charge and save Nepal, NOW IS THE TIME, YOU NEED TO ACT NOW.

Posted on: 25 JUNE 2011 | 11:04 PM NST

15. Gert
I detect a despodency in your editorials. This one almost reads like you have given up. Please don't, Nepali Times is a beacon of hope for me and my colleagues, and we appreciate what you are doing to bring out the inspirational stories of Nepalis who are hard-working, honest and committed to their communities and not just the predictable stories of politics from the capitol. Most of your respondents seem to be obsessed with politics and have given up hope for the futur, but thank you for standing up for democracy and violence-free politics. GFxx

Posted on: 26 JUNE 2011 | 12:22 PM NST

16. reb
the solution is not the general's taking over. local election and decentralization of central power to the local bodies - including administration, police, legal adjudication ability, etc... Then people running the local area needs to be tied to the local soil - faraway people may not have the desire, the incentive, or motivation to do anything concrete in the few years that they are posted.

Posted on: 26 JUNE 2011 | 9:15 PM NST

17. Vija Srestha
It is so predictable....

In a state of impunity......Why use words that most Nepalese do not understand?We punish the person for stealing a dozen of bananas etc ,but we do not punish the politician who takes billions in deals.Irresposibility,matter of survival,what would be the correct expression to use?

Another 5 point deal,another extention ,another three months of passive work,another reasoning for job not done,another inflow of money from outside for the so called government projects,another' laxmi to milk '.The question is,does the government want the change or is it bizness as usual.Nepal is sandwiched by two great neighbours and our politicians are swaying like monkeys from one branch to another ,they are masters of doing so.We are forgetting that 'a politician' is the profession as any other. The quality of work done by these politicians in the present government is not a quality that would withstand the 21st century for Nepal as a whole,however at least a bunch is getting fatter and time and time again,we wake up and move at the speed of a sloths to say we are changing the position or that we go to hibernate again.It's a peaceful life style,everyone is happy,everyone knows how to make money,just needs to learn not to step on toes otherwise one ends up as the corpse in some river .We can remove any other professional if one doesn't fulfill the specifics and requirements of the job,but we can not remove a politician,a minister who has shadowy past and actions because nepali professionals are so creative,that they always come up with a new reason ,a system ,the whole set of professionals work out the excuses,reasoning for anything.I wish this force was paid much more for making positive changes.

Mr.Khanal says he won't quit the government.Mr.Khanal,that is exactly what opposite forces need and you personali need, as it is your job as a politician,to do as much ugly politics as possible in Nepal ,so that ministers who you have chosen can earn as much as you ,and most importantly,everyone needs to be happy and at the present you are doing just fine.It's working.You can not quit government because it is your only chance and you need to grab it and everyone supports and feeds your ego and hunger for good money and life style .

Are you bringing difference?

No,you are deepening the core essence of the problem in Nepal.

Corruption is the name for your deals and for your time of governance.

Just reading the articles in all the government newspapers,one gets impression,in every field there is so much of corruption,every field,schools,hospitals,children adoptions etc,it's the creativity of Nepali people who have no chance to turn it around in a positive way.

The most painful realization is that in all such actions there are educated people who use double standards and the inability of nepali people to stand up for themselves,a matter of survival,starting with the government politicians as the leaders of the corruption system and every individual ,every politician talking and giving promises ,but in reality doing total opposite,if not directly by themselves then surely by their handy man who are well paid from the pockets of those who have stuffed them.

Morale=money, is the slogan of the day.The political stagnation in Nepal is created ,is held and if law was equal for everyone,money would not need to be a measurement of who is right or wrong.

I agree with commentator //15//

and that goes to all hard working people in every field,who have understood that our future starts from our family values and morale,it is much harder way to earn living ,but it certainly is the most worthy and satisfying .

Mr. Khanal,what can be the most stupid demand,until there is no constitution ,PLA and Nepali Army can not be disolved.You forget one core internationl reality.There was,is and always will be and must be only one army in the country so demands as such are just obsurd or you are thinking everyone else is stupid.What a creativity,how far can go the shameless politicians!!!!!!!!!!!!Rat ta ta ta........Every self-respecting individual would turn away and many have done so,but it is harder to stay there and write about your governance and the deals you make.Going away is playing right in your hand, but thanks God,there are people like Dixists who do not let everything to be swept under the carpet.

Posted on: 26 JUNE 2011 | 9:49 PM NST

18. Amartya Sen
I kept going through the comments and started wondering why someone is not commening, until I reached #13... then bingo, yep, he's there, commenting, as always, in defence of maobaddies.

to be fair, impunity is not the exclusive property of maobaddies; but it is fair to say that they are doing it for political ends while congressis and uml did for corruption.

it was old girija baje who, when he was the prime minister, defied the order to testify before commission of prefention of abuse of authority (CPAA) on lauda scandal. there are plenty of such stories.

i say, arrest all those who protect the murderers and keep them in jail until their death. no probation.

Posted on: 26 JUNE 2011 | 11:22 PM NST

19. Naresh
#Amartya

I've been hanging on your Memorial speech lately where you talk pretty awesome about welfare economics and social choice theory.

So you say that welfare economics presupposes every individuals ought to be paid the dividend of governance. I could critique you in 1000 plus pages book on why that proposition is faintly idealistic, not only unrealistic, but also stupid.

However, to broaden welfare doesn't really need the top-down mechanisms, something of a masthead to cruise in the stormy sea, or any sorta identification of authority, to the large possible section of the society. I could agree no less.

Another thing: Do you know why some people are welfare-centric while others misanthropic?

Anyway, I liked the way you present yourself as a cool economist. I'm damn shit to these detail-oriented Paul Krugman. (#2) This is how I shun the economists, who, instead of expounding the Classics, like Smith's The Wealth of Nations, Keynes' General Theory of...U, I & M, and yours The Idea of Justice, take refuse of blogs for twitter followers to compromise the long-lasting classics. I see in Krugman blistering the dry blame-games. Why are some economists so detail oriented, and if details ain't confused with short-sighted genius, stupid? Why don't they write books to echo the passions of eternity, so the futurity cherish them as their own? Why do we read Plato's Republic, all those Socratic ironies and Athenian democracy, even after twenty five centuries after it was written? Had Plato written blogs, he'd have been a fad charisma, not the stroking genius of all times.

Posted on: 28 JUNE 2011 | 1:31 AM NST

20. JJoshy
Naresh, aka Arthur, both completely unintelligible spouting gibberish.

Posted on: 29 JUNE 2011 | 6:37 AM NST

21. Never Mind
"So you say that welfare economics presupposes every individuals ought to be paid the dividend of governance. I could critique you in 1000 plus pages book on why that proposition is faintly idealistic, not only unrealistic, but also stupid."

Critique it in one paragraph of 50 words. Or, answer these questions.

What is welfare economics? What is governance? What is a presupposition? What form does governance dividend take?

Posted on: 29 JUNE 2011 | 9:08 PM NST

22. Naresh

#Never Mind

Answer:

Hey, if you need some definitions, browse Wikipedia. If you want concrete concepts and rigorous debates, come to me.

I will just try....

Let me answer the issue you raise on why one paragraph of fiftysome words is impossible; Said another way, you'll not understand if I do.

Is it really possible to disinterate or sum up the text in its reduced form? No..There doesn't exist any summary, and any hopes to reduce the texts in identifiable and minimal form is a crop you plant in vain.

Still I give you some vague notions: The first question pertains Economics, the second Political Science, the third Epistemology/Logic, and the fourth Political Economy.

Posted on: 29 JUNE 2011 | 10:59 PM NST

23. Milton Friedman
Naresh, my dear son, I like your line of argument. ;)

I'm sure you'll carry my mast for a long time to come.

Posted on: 30 JUNE 2011 | 9:40 AM NST

24. Deep
For Kamred Arthur the logic goes this way - whatever particular act of crime/dishonesty his Maoist idols can ever be shown to have done, there is some sin by others that can be made an equivalent. Which therefore supposedly makes all Maoist behaviour justifiable. Laughably weak argument...

Posted on: 30 JUNE 2011 | 4:21 AM NST